Herbal Therapy for the Performance Mare

The Competition Mare is often plagued with the same Premenstrual Syndrome as the human athlete. In our case histories, we often find this mare to be physically sore in muscles from head to toe. Most of the time, the animal is just as sore the next day after massage therapy as if it had not been applied. A handler can check this out by application of grooming techniques using a rubber curry. Our opinion is this mare is constantly in a state of stress due to straining of her body's position to alleviate back spasms, to attempt to force herself into the natural heat cycle, etc. Current veterinary methods for controlling these side effects of PMS include hormonal replacement therapy.

Such therapy normally includes Regu-Mate (Altrenogest), an allopathic progresterone therapy, to suppress estrus. Estrus is a normal bodily function. It is my opinion that suppression of a natural function often leads to disfunction in other areas of the body. If required, the natural form of progesterone is found in the Wild Yam root.

Most veterinarians fail to warn the administrators of the following:

1. Due to probable skin absorption changing his/her hormonal balance, the person handling such drug should wear gloves at all times when exposure is possible;
2. animal testing proved fetal abnormalities, specially masculinization of the female genitalia;
3. prolongation of pregnancy;
4. acute overdose effects may occur with a single exposure;
5. continued usage may cause menstrual (heat) cycle disruption, uterine cramping & bleeding, headache, infertility;
6. based on similar human products Regu-Mate should not be handled by or given to an individual (human or animal) which has thrombophlebitis, cerebralvascular or coronary artery disease, breast carcinoma, undiagnosed vaginal bleeding, estrogen-dependent neoplasia (tumors or growths), liver or kidney problems, asthma, stone formation;
7. side effects include but are not limited to drug interactions with tranquilizers, anti-anxiety agents, Phenylbutazone (Bute), Ampillicin, Neomycin, penicillin, Tetracycline, Chloramphenicol, sulfa drugs, Acetaminophen, etc. which decrease the contraceptive effect while causing increased liver toxicity;
8. decrease effects of salicylate pain relievers;
9. increase or decrease blood-thinners effectiveness; alter blood tests by showing an increase of blood levels for fats, thyroid, alkaline phosphatase, bilirubin, clotting factors, glucose;
10. decrease glucose tolerance;
11. increase corticosteroids effects;
12. if there is a uterine infection present, the progestin makes the infection worse.

We have found that by introducing 2 ounces of Black Cohosh (Cimicifuga racemosa) extract twice daily for 2 days at the 1st sign of heat enables the mare to complete a normal function in the quickest possible time. Black Cohosh contains compenents of naturally occurring estrogen properties. This enables the individual without adequate hormonal balance to produce and to release a follicle in a shortened time frame. It is a natural oxytocic (to aid normal uterine contractions), aids against false labor pains & a poison antidote to neutralize a potential internal disease process. This herb has been used historically to control unwanted uterine hemorrhage, nervousness & ease the pain of delivery. Therefore, the normal PMS symptoms of physical soreness, (w)itchiness, and general inability to want to perform correctly disappear.

This mare would also be kept on a daily regimen of FM10, an herbal formula of Red Raspberry leaf (Rubus idaeus), Licorce root (Glycyrrhiza uralensis), Wild Rose hips (Rosa canina), and Kelp (Ascophyllum nodosum). Another current product (Harmonizer) is the introduction of Chaste Tree berry (Vitex angus castus) extract into the system.

Also refer to The Breeding Mare for more information on how to manage the heat cycle, infections, Pneumovaginal (wind sucking).

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